Hanczyc M M, Dorit R L
Department of Genetics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA.
RNA. 1998 Mar;4(3):268-75.
In the course of evolving variants of the Tetrahymena thermophila Group I ribozyme for improved DNA cleavage in vitro, we witnessed the unexpected emergence of a derived molecular species, capable of acting as a partner for the ribozyme, but no longer autocatalytic. This new RNA species exhibits a deletion in the catalytic core and participates in a productive intermolecular interaction with an active ribozyme, thus insuring its survival in the population. These novel RNA molecules have evolved a precise catalytic interaction with the Group I ribozyme and depend for their survival on the continued presence of active catalysts. This interaction hints at the complexity that may inevitably arise even in simple evolving systems.
在为提高嗜热四膜虫I组核酶的体外DNA切割能力而对其变体进行进化的过程中,我们意外地发现了一种衍生分子物种,它能够作为核酶的伙伴发挥作用,但不再具有自我催化能力。这种新的RNA物种在催化核心区域存在缺失,并与活性核酶发生有效的分子间相互作用,从而确保其在群体中的存活。这些新型RNA分子已经进化出与I组核酶精确的催化相互作用,并且它们的存活依赖于活性催化剂的持续存在。这种相互作用暗示了即使在简单的进化系统中也可能不可避免地出现的复杂性。